ON THE ROAD AT VALLECAS

Match details

Rayo Vallecano-Sevillla FC

Matchday 26 LALIGA EA Sports

Estadio de Vallecas

16:15 CET

History

Founded in 1924, Rayo Vallecano de Madrid are from the Vallecas neighbourhood in the Spanish capital. Known for its working-class identity and strong support of social causes, the club has spent 19 seasons in the topflight and one season in Europe in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup where they reached the quarter finals. Historically a "yo-yo" club, Rayo has fluctuated between La Liga and Segunda División, with their most successful period in the early 2000s. After relegations in 2003 and 2004, Rayo returned to La Liga in 2011 and, despite financial struggles, enjoyed brief stints in the top division. After relegation in 2016, they bounced back in 2018 and secured another La Liga promotion in 2020/21 – overturning a first leg deficit in the playoff final to beat Girona 2-1 under the guidance of Andoni Iraola.

Standings

After a 17th placed finish last season, Rayo have been the surprise package for many this season as they head into the game in a highly commendable 6th position and firmly in the hunt for European football for just the second time in the club’s history. They started 2025 with just one defeat in their first seven games, however, narrow defeats against Barcelona (1-0) and Villarreal (1-0) in their past two games have halted their momentum somewhat.

Last five meetings

24/11/24 Sevilla 1-0 Rayo Vallecano

5/2/24 Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Sevilla

7/10/24 Sevilla 2-2 Rayo Vallecano

19/2/23 Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Sevilla

29/10/22 Sevilla 0-1 Rayo Vallecano

Squad lowdown

An efficient side, Rayo’s defence has been one of their biggest strengths this season with Argentine goalkeeper Augusto Batalla impressing and overall the team having conceded 27 goals in 25 league games so far this season. A difficult side to breakdown of the eight games they have lost this season – six of those have been by just a one goal margin. At home it is 18 points from 12 games with wins against Girona and Real Valladolid in their past five.  Top scorer Jorge de Frutos has four league goals but the goals have been shared across the team with 10 different goal scorers in 2024/25.

Coach

Iñigo Pérez came through the youth system at Athletic Club and made his first team debut coincidently against Rayo Vallecano in 2009. He would go on to spend time on loan at Huesca and Mallorca. After leaving Athletic in 2014, he joined Numancia and then Osasuna. Retiring in 2022, he joined Andoni Iraola's coaching staff at Rayo Vallecano and became head coach in February 2024.

Player links

Of the current squads, Saúl Ñíguez played on loan at Rayo Vallecano in the 2013/14 season making 37 appearances for Los Franjirrojos in all competitions.

Going back further some of the players to have played for both teams during their career include Franco Vázquez, Coke, Emiliano Armenteros, Alfonso Cortijo, Alfonso Cortijo and Toni Polster.

Classic meeting

Round of 16 Copa del Rey

20 March 2021

Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán

Having been draw together for the very first time in the Copa del Rey we played out a 0-0 draw in a cagey first leg at Vallecas against a Rayo side than were then in Segunda B in the third tier of Spanish football. Alejandro Alfaro opened the scoring on 17 minutes but Mauri equalised just seven minutes later. Juande Ramos made the changes at half time and they proved inspired ones as Kanoute came off the bench to give us the lead before four minutes from time Alfaro got his second of the night to set up a quarter-final tie against Real Betis. A 1-0 win against Betis would be followed up by a 5-0 win against Deportivo de La Coruña to set up a final against Getafe where a goal from Kanoute at the Bernabéu gave us the cup.